Door frame structures



March 5, 1963 R. E. SPENCE DOOR FRAME STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1960 INVENTOR 6 C n e D. S E y 6 n d O R Fig.4

ATTORNEY March 5, 1963 R. E. SPENCE DOOR FRAME STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1960 Fig.6

Rodney E. Spence BY ya W ATTORNEY 3,079,650 DOGR FRAME STRUGTURES Rodney E. Spence, Dallas, Tex, assignor to W. Donald Box, Dallas, Tex. Filed Jan. 29, 195i Ser. No. 3,553 3 Qiaims. (Cl. 29-1-11) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in door frame structures, and is particularly directed to a folding pocket door frame for sliding doors.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding'door pocket frame for buildings.

An important object of the invention is to provide a folding pocket sliding door frame which may be essentially prefabricated at a factory and may be shipped in a folded, partially assembled form to the point of use and which may be readily erected and installed in a building structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door frame of the character described which may be readily manufactured in quantity at a central factory and which is foldable so as to be shippable in small-compact packages for installation at the site of use, said structure providing for uniform size and construction of the door frame and pocket, whereby identical door frames may be used to provide for interchangeability of all fittings in the buildmg.v

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a substantially prefabricated folding pocket sliding frame structure which may be readily erected by-unskilled labor andin a short period of time.

Additional objects are to provide an economical and inexpensive door frame whi'h may be made in large numbers and shippedinexpensively; which may be folded to-conserve space for storage and shipping; which provides for interchangeability of parts including doors; which provides for erection and installation by relatively unskilled labor and-is therefore inexpensive to erect and install; and which lends itself to mass production methods.

Additional objects andadvantages of the invention will be readily-apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference. to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FlGURE'l is a front elevation view of a pocket sliding door frame showing the sameerected;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the door frame in folded position, ready for storage or shipping;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded isometric view of the upper portion of the door frame, showing the 'manner in which the header rail and the jamb members are fitted together for erection;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE .1;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6:6 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

Briefly, the invention relates to the framing, jamb members and header members used in building into a wall opening of a building structure a doorway and a pocket into which a door slides to leave the doorway open. The assembly is inserted in a wall opening when the building is under construction and the pocket portions of the frame are covered over on opposite sides by means of plaster board or plaster, or wood and paper finish in the usual manner, the covering enclosing the pocket into which the sliding door is moved to leave the doorway open and the door concealed.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally LAW filgfi fi Patented Mar. 5, 1963 a door frame structure incorporating the features of the present invention, FIGURE-l showing the-same in its erected position ready for installation in a wall opening of -a building. The frame includes avertical face jamb 11, a vertical back jamb 12 and a central vertical split jamb assembly 13 disposed substantially medially between the face jamb and the back jamb, all of said vertical members being connected at their upper ends to a horizontal header and track assembly 14. A plurality of vertical spaced horizontally extendingspacer or spreader members 15'are connected at their opposite ends to one side of the back jamb 12 and of the split jamb assembly 13, and, as is best seen in FIGURE6, a second set of spreader members 16 corresponding in vertically spaced location to the spreaders 15 is secured to the opposite side of the back jamb 12 and to the opposite side of the split jamb assembly 13;

The split jamb assembly has two laterally'spaced vertical frame members 2% and 21 which are held in laterally spaced relationship by the engagement of their upper ends on opposite sides of the header and track assembly 14 and are held separated at their lower ends by means of a metal spacer plate 23 and a lower door guide 24 secured to the lower ends of the two frame members, as best seen in FIGURE 5.

The split jamb member includes, in addition to the two'vertical frame members 2% and 21, metal channel embers or stilfeners 25 and "26 secured to the inner faces of the frame members by screws 27.0r any other suitable securing means. The channel members have a web portion 28, an outer flange 29"and an inner flange 3i The inner flange 3d of each of the channel members is substantially longer thanthe outer flange and provides a means for connecting the spreaders 15 and ldto the split jambassembly. The ends of the spreader members 15 and 16 aresecuredto the longer flanges 30 of the channels 25 and 26 by means of rivets .31 which extend through suitable apertures provided in the flanges and in the ends of the spreader members. The rivets are upset or 'spread'on'each endito hold the same in place in the usual manner and, when so installed, the rivets provide for pivotal movement ofthe spreader members with respect to the channel members of the split jarnb assembly. Asis clearly shown in FIGURE 1, the upper corner of the'ends of each of the spreader members is beveled to ,permitthe pivotal movement of the'spreader members with respect to the flanges without interference by engagement with the web. 28 forming the base portion of the channels. The opposite or outer ends of each of the spreader members is pivotally secured as by a nail 35 inserted through a suitable drilled hole in such oppositeor outer ends of the spreader members and driven into holes provided in the vertical back jamb 12.

Time, the back jambtlZ may be swung upwardly in a counter clockwise direction about the rivets 31, the loose pivotal-connection of the ends of the spreader members with the split jamb assembly and theback janib permitting such swinging movement of the back jamb with rspect'to the'split jamb assembly. The upper portion 12a ofthe 'back 'jamb is formed of a separate piece of material andis connected as at 36 by means of a hinge 37 at its lower end to the upperend of the main lower portion of the back jamb, whereby the upper portion 12a may be folded downwardly at the hinge 37 in the manner shown in FIGURE 2 to shorten the upwardly projecting portion of the assembly whenthe door frame assembly is in the folded position shown inFIGURE 2. When the door frame is erected, .the upper section 12a is connected by means of nails 38 driven through the'openings provided in the headerand track assembly 3 14 and is thereby maintained in the erect position shown in FIGURE 1.

The header and track assembly 14 includes a formed metal track member as having an upper plate 41, a depending flange 42 and an inwardly and downwardly then horizontally and upwardly extending supporting track member 43. The downwardly extending flange 42 of the track is secured to one wooden header frame member 44 by means of a screw 45 or the like. The opposite edge of the upper plate 41 of the track is secured in the grooved upper end of an opposite wooden header frame member 46 by means of nails 47 or the like. The wooden frame members 44 and 46 are secured to the track member 49 in longitudinally parallel spaced relationship and with track member provide an elongate upper header and track assembly for joining vertical jamb members ill, 12, and 13. A spacer or stop and framing member Stl is secured to each side of the header and track assembly near one end, the outer ends of the stop and framing member being spaced from the adjacent end of the header and track assembly a suiiicient distance to receive the upper end of the face jamb member 11 below the frame members in such a manner that the end of the header and track assembly is flush with the outer surface of the face jamb member. (See FIGURES 1 and 3.) The opposite ends of the stop and framing members engage the inner surfaces of the spht jamb assembly as shown in Fl'GURES 1 and 3 and provide for framing the door opening and spacing the split jamb assembly from the face jamb the proper distance to accommodate the door and to provide the desired door opening. The upper end of the back jamb 12 is tenoned or laterally reduced as at 39 and the reduced tenon end is received between the header frame members 44 and 46 and secured thereto by nails 38 as has already been explained.

The upper ends of the vertical frame members 2% and 21 of the split jamb assembly are also reduced and are secured to the horizontal wooden frame members 44 and 45 by nails 48 inserted through suitable holes provided in such reduced ends and driven into such horizontal frame members. Likewise, the upper end of the face jamb ii is secured by nails 4% or the like to the outer ends of the framing members Si). (See FIG- URE 3.)

The usual bumper stop 69 is positioned on the back jamb so as to engage the edge of the door moving into the pocket to limit the movement of the door into the pocket, and to prevent damaging the door by the engagement of the door with the hinge and other elements of the frame structure. The guide 24 at the lower end of opening is designed to guide the lower edge of the door as it moves into the pocket of the frame.

Temporary spacer blocks 61 are nailed to the vertical frame members 20 and 21 of the split jamb assembly to hold the same in properly spaced parallel relationship from the time of original assembly till the frame has been erected in the building with the upper ends of such vertical frame members secured to the header assembly. The blocks are removed after the frame has been installed in the building and before the door is hung on the track. In manufacture, the various elements forming the door frame are prefabricated at the factory to the desired dimensions to provide the proper door opening and pocket for receiving the sliding door when erected in a building. The frame assembly may be assembled and collapsed for shipping to the place of use. Due to the pivotal connection of the spreader members 15 and 16 with the central vertical split jamb assembly 13, the outer ends of such spreader members may pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the rivets 31 connecting the spreader members with the channel members 25 and 26 of the split jamb assembly. The back jarnb 12, being likewise pivotally connected to such opposite outer ends of the spreader members by thenailsfor similar pivot members 35, will the upper ends of the all be swung upwardly with the spreader members when the same are moved in the counterclockwise direction around the rivets. The back jamb and the spreader members are swung upwardly in the manner just described to the collapsed position shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the spreader members abut each other and are closely folded in parallel relationship to the split jamb assembly, and the back jamb is also simultaneously moved inwardly in the manner shown to lie parallel to and closely adjacent the split jamb assembly. The upper portion 12:: of the back jamb member is then folded downwardly by means of the hinge 37 into a position between the upright por tions of the split jamb. The header and rail assembly 14 is then inserted between the spreader members 15 and 36 as shown in FIGURE 2 and the face jamb 11 is then positioned in abutting relationship to the back jamb 12. With the parts in this position, the entire frame assembly assumes a very small cross-sectional dimension, and the entire assembly may be packaged in a very small cardboard carton or the like for shipping purposes. For example, the entire frame may be conveniently packaged in a carton about five inches in height by ten inches in width by about ninety-six inches in length, and such a frame will accommodate doors between two and three feet in width and six feet eight inches in height,

For the foregoing, it will readily be seen that a folding door frame having a pocket incorporated therein for receiving a sliding door has been provided which is adapted for essential prefabrication at a factory and shipment in a folded col apsed form to the point of use where it may be readily erected by unskilled labor to provide an accurately fitted and assembled folding pocket door frame for sliding doors.

it will further be seen that the invention provides for the manufacture, shipping and installation of door frames of the type described which are uniform in size and construction and may be used interchangeably with other fittings in all similar doors in a building.

It will further be seen that the door frame assembly may be manufactured inexpensively in large numbers and shipped inexpensively due to the conservation of space required for shipping, and that the door frame when erected will accommodate and accurately support in operating condition a laterally slidable sliding door.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A foldable pocket for a pocket door frame for a sliding door including: a pair of vertical jarnb members, one of said jamb members having a longitudinally extending slot provided therein; connecting members extending in horizontal spaced parallel relationship to each other between said vertical jamb members; means pivotally connecting each of said connecting members to one of said vertical jamb members, whereby said vertical jamb members are held in longitudinally parallel vertical spaced relationship to each other, said pivotal connecting means providing for collapsing movement of said jamb members toward each other; the vertical jamb member having the lon itudinally extending slot opening provided therein having longitudinally extending channel members positioned thereon on each side of said vertically extending slot opening, said channel members each having spaced side flanges and a web portion, the web portion of the channel members being secured to the jamb memmember; and a header member releasably connected to the upper ends of the vertical jamb members to hold the same in parallel spaced erected position and releasable therefrom to permit said collapsing movement of said jamb members toward each other.

2. A foldable pocket for a pocket door frame for a sliding door of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein: the header member has means thereon providing a track for receiving and supporting a sliding door for horizontal movement into and out of said pocket.

3. A foldable pocket for a pocket frame for a sliding door including: a pair of jamb members, one of said jamb members having a longitudinally extending slot opening provided therein; connecting members pivotally connected at their ends to said jamb members in spaced parallel relationship to each other, said connecting members holding the jamb members in spaced parallel relation whereby said jamb members extend in longitudinally parallel relationship to each other; said pivotal connection of said connecting members with said jamb members providing for collapsing movement of said jamb members toward each other; and a header member releasably connected to the upper ends of the jamb members to hold the same in parallel spaced erected position, said header means having track means thereon fior receiving and supporting a sliding door, said collapsing movement of the jamb members toward each other being eifected when said header member is released from its connection to the upper ends of said jamb members to permit collapsing movement of said jamb members toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,832,105 Pearson Apr. 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,441 Austria Aug. 10, 1910 

1. A FOLDABLE POCKET FOR A POCKET DOOR FRAME FOR A SLIDING DOOR INCLUDING: A PAIR OF VERTICAL JAMB MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID JAMB MEMBERS HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT PROVIDED THEREIN; CONNECTING MEMBERS EXTENDING IN HORIZONTAL SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL JAMB MEMBERS; MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING EACH OF SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS TO ONE OF SAID VERTICAL JAMB MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID VERTICAL JAMB MEMBERS ARE HELD IN LONGITUDINALLY PARALLEL VERTICAL SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER, SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTING MEANS PROVIDING FOR COLLAPSING MOVEMENT OF SAID JAMB MEMBERS TOWARD EACH OTHER; THE VERTICAL JAMB MEMBER HAVING THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT OPENING PROVIDED THEREIN HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL MEMBERS POSITIONED THEREON ON EACH SIDE OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOT OPENING, SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS EACH HAVING SPACED SIDE FLANGES AND A WEB PORTION, THE WEB PORTION OF THE CHANNEL MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO THE JAMB MEMBER, ONE OF THE FLANGES OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APERTURES FORMED THEREIN; 